U.s. Denies Visas For Infants

World News to Note

November 21, 2001

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- The United States will not give visas to 11 Cambodian infants adopted by American parents, the U.S. ambassador said Tuesday, citing an investigation that found the babies were bought or stolen from their biological parents. The decision, which came after two months of U.S. investigations, is a major blow to the prospective parents, who had waited weeks in Cambodia for visas for the infants. Ambassador Kent Wiedemann said "compelling evidence" showed that none of the 11 children was "a real orphan."